I guess it’s not surprising to find out that nature has a positive influence on human beings. We kind of know it deep down. But has it ever been proven scientifically? Well, yes! It’s called the biophilia effect.
Biophilia at its core was defined as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive” (Erich Fromm, 1973, “The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness).
The biophilia theory was formally introduced in the 1984 by E.O. Wilson, a biologist and naturalist with an impressive career. A study from the same year belonging to professor Roger Ulrich, revealed that looking at a green forest from the window of a hospital was increasing recovery from surgery. Nowadays it’s a well-known fact that nature walks increase the production of endorphins and dopamine. Endorphins relieve pain, reduce stress and increase overall wellbeing. Sex, massage, eating also produce endorphins. But here’s another interesting finding: watching documentaries about nature has the same effect. It’s not a surprise, knowing that our brain can’t tell the difference between reality and imagination in the sense that it triggers the same hormones when we imagine somethings vs actually living it (from cortisol to dopamine).
Impressive, so how can I use the biophilia effect?
Most of us have an urban lifestyle and unfortunately, we can’t take a stroll in the forest every day. Not even in the park. I also tend to believe most of us can’t afford to live in a house like Frank Lloyd’s Fallingwater – an example of biophilia in architecture (official site here). So, how can we bring nature to us, instead? Or even better: how can we make the brain believe that it’s surrounded by nature and trigger the endorphins and dopamine? (this is your Aha! moment).
Nature’s design is fractal. That means it repeats the same pattern from a micro to a major scale. So, the guiding principles would be: depth / 3d illusions, round shapes or non-straight lines, colour schemes and tones that reproduce nature (shades of blue, earth tones), organic shapes vs geometrical ones, variety and fractal design.
Needless to say that looking at a violent waterfall or rushed river doesn’t have the same effect as contemplating the desert or a forest. Just in case I need to state the obvious: these principles are beneficial for any place where we spend our time (office, home, cafe, any type of building). Studies from Exeter University were indicating a 15% increase in productivity (and creativity) in workspaces with plants. Writing this I remembered how I used to work for years in a corporate depressing space with not a single plant in sight, where natural light was available only for a handful of desks.
Explain it to me like I’m five
Here are some out of the box solutions to create the biophilia effect in your home:
- if possible, aim for a house with a view towards nature (park, forest, garden)
- enhance natural light, either through windows or skylights
- add natural plants. At brain level, artificial plants could have the same beneficial effect, but it would be a shame given all the natural options at hand (requiring more or less watering, more or less light). Plus, natural plants improve the air quality. The very least you could do would be a stabilized lichens and moss frame.
- add an indoor garden or an indoor fountain
- choose furniture with honeycomb patterns, curved edges or wood effect. Opt for natural materials (wood and stone over plastic and metal)
- allow fresh air to enter the room as often as possible
- pick fragrances that evoke natural smells
- use artwork depicting natural sceneries or animals in nature
- get a tropical fish tank
- get a fireplace (there are plenty of artificial fireplace options that look just like a natural one)
- own a pet (ideally picked from a shelter)
- watch more documentaries about nature
Not possible, I hate nature
While the biophilia effect stands true for most people, there are also humans that present biophobia. That is a fear of nature and being in a natural environment. But the important aspect is that as the name says, that is a phobia (!) and not our natural state. Biophobia usually manifests in subjects raised all their life in the city and is rather a fear of certain elements that might hide in nature (insects, animals, snakes, heights, etc).
Conclusion
For human beings, nature has been a provider of food and protection since the beginnings of time. That was until plastic took over. We know nowadays that its effects are not that beneficial as we find plastic particles in our food and our own body. From living in nature, we moved to crowded concrete blocks and got depressed. While we could transform even urban spaces and buildings to include rooftop gardens, we barely do it. We prefer mowed lawns instead of bee-friendly gardens with native flowers. Yet, bringing nature back into our lives through the biophilia effect will not only improve our health, but might turn us back to protecting nature. We can give it a try.
If you have enjoyed reading this or know someone who needs to hear all this, please go ahead and share it with your friends. Thank you!
